Wow. We're getting so far in this. I'm trying so hard to keep up with everything, to love doing this as much as I used to. I am starting to lose faith for some reason…. Correction. I was losing faith. I've been thoroughly depressed these past couple of weeks, depressed and heartbroken. I don't enjoy whining to you guys, but sometimes it just helps when you have problems, you know? Even if you don't know the people, it helps…..

But one review really made me regain this confidence in myself and helped me feel not depressed.

"Wow! Absolutely riveting and very well written.

Anxiously awaiting coming chapters!"

Lee Heteroclite, thank you so much. You really helped me. I couldn't stop smiling that day thanks to your review. And so, this chapter is yours.

Recommended songs for this song:

'Thinking of You' by Katy Perry

'For the First Time' by The Script.

'Someone Like You' by Adele

'Shattered' by Trading Yesterday. It is very important that it's the MTT version; otherwise it's not half as good.

'Fix You' by the Glee Cast. That version just seems so more emotional than the original.

'Will I?' by Rent

The Only Exception

I Will Try to Fix You

September

I feel so sick. Sick in my mind, sick to my stomach. There's a child growing inside me, something living, something precious. I hate this child. So much. It is but one of the many chains that is keeping me prisoner here.

Tamaki is beyond overjoyed. He is positively radiating happiness. And all of the servants have been infected by it, all of them. "Oh Lady Fujioka, this is so wonderful!" a maid blushed and said to me today. "Permission to hug you, m'lady?" another asked. Can't they see how much self-loathing I am trying to repress? How much suffering I am enduring? Why do they just stand idly by and watch me slowly die from the inside out as this thing poisons me, as this depression eats me away before their very eyes?

Yori is the only one who is not overjoyed. In fact, she seems paler. As I walk briskly, no pace, back and forth across my room, she watches me fearfully. I notice every movement, every flicker, every opening of her mouth in my peripheral vision as she seems to be finding something comforting to say to me. She knew about Takashi and me, she knew. And now she has witnessed this atrocity.

"She's only sixteen! Only a child!" I screamed at Yuzuru today. That bastard has the nerve to come visit me. I fist my hands at my sides. "What is wrong with you?" But he only smiled, only smiled and left the room. I was left with my questions unanswered and my rage abundant.

He got to work; I was put on maternity leave. Kyouya had given the time off almost two hours after I told him the news.

"Haruhi…?" he said, peeking his head around the door.

*Point of View Shift*

She was sitting on the bed, hands twisting one another, over and over and over and over. Her face was perfectly calm, perfectly poised. But her hands… they were ever so restless. One twist, two twists, three twists, over and over again until finally I couldn't stand it.

"Haruhi." I sat next to her. Her hand twisting did not cease. My existence was not acknowledged, but tolerated. "Please. Stop." I put my hands over hers, and she opened her eyes to look at me.

Oblivion stared me in the face for a brief moment before she came back with a flicker.

Oblivion.

What a horribly empty word.

"Haruhi, let's go away somewhere, all right?" The brown eyes I adored so much stared at me with faked interest, despair I couldn't pull out behind them. "Anywhere you want darling, I'll take you. I'll take care of you from now on, I promise. We'll go away alright? We'll go away." Her eyes welled up. I hated it when they did that. It made me feel so very guilty. So guilty that I had done this all to her.

"Do you-" want to leave, Haruhi? I almost asked it. I knew that was what she wanted, what she desired so desperately. But…. We were having a child now. I would go to counseling, anything now to keep her.

She pressed her conjoined hands to her forehead, almost as if in prayer. She began to sob. And I held her in my arms, and suddenly it was nostalgia, hurtful, painful nostalgia was gripping me. "I wish I could help you, but I don't know how." I whispered into her ear, stroking her hair back with one hand.

"I'll try to be happier." She whispered back. For once, in seven years, her words to me sounded genuine.

October

I was… in America. In America! I couldn't help but feel a little overjoyed at the thought. A hand went to my stomach, where a baby was slowly growing. Tamaki smiled. "Just wait, it's going to kick me one of these days." I had to smile a little. "Not for a couple more months." I averted my gaze to the airplane window. "Haruhi, look!" Tamaki pointed excitedly over my shoulder. "It's the San Francisco Bridge!"

And so it was. It was beautiful, so delicately arched, so modern.

Takashi would like it.

My insides twisted and my mood plummeted.

Suddenly the world wasn't so bright anymore. How could I have forgotten about him, even for a moment? That wasn't supposed to happen. We were….taking a nine-month break, that's all.

Or at least that's what I kept telling myself.

"Haruhi…."

I turned.

And screamed as a horrific zombie mask stared me in the face. "Isn't this wonderful?" Tamaki laughed behind the plastic. I punched him in the shoulder. "Not funny, Tamaki-sempai!" I squeaked. Oops, again with the sempai. He giggled. "Sempai? Silly Haruhi."

It felt better without Yuzuru here. Or Dad. Or Kyouya. Anyone really but us was fine. It was close to Halloween, I realized. When did I start losing track of the time? When did things start blurring together like this?

My eyes teared.

Hands folded over mine.

"It will be alright, Haruhi."

I could only nod; cursing that unwanted child inside of me like it was poison.

November

Dearest Maman,

We found out what the baby was today! Oh, it was so glorious! I have never been so proud to be a father in my life. I wish you could've been here, Maman, but I know that travel makes you ill. I can only hope that you're getting better as these months get colder. America is so different compared to Japan. The things I've seen and heard! Thank you so much for convincing Shima to teach me English! I love you so much for that, Maman.

But now, back to the news. The baby…Oh, I can't even begin to tell you just how happy I am, Maman. It feels like all of the joy inside of me is just going to come bursting out like a glorious fountain of happiness to cover the world! Which is something Haruhi doesn't approve of, hehe. She'd prefer the fountain to be smaller and more contained. But that's her, and that's why I love her. Oh, she was so nervous today. At least she let me go in with her though. Isn't that wonderful, Maman?

Oh, I keep going off track! But I can't help it! I'm just so happy! We're having a baby! We're having a baby! It will be adorable and dark-haired like its beautiful mother, I know it! Of course, I wouldn't mind for it to have my characteristics. Could you imagine if it had both? No one could resist our child then! No one!

But I must cut this letter short. Haruhi is starting to get into the mood swing part of her pregnancy, Maman. Do you think you could write back rather hastily? I haven't the slightest idea on what to do with a temperamental pregnant woman and I'm rather frightened. She's getting cravings too. I'm worried she'll eat me before this is all over!

That or kill me.

Please write back, Maman. I'm very scared and am missing you more than ever.

Love always from your dearest son,

Tamaki

P.S. Oh I almost forgot again! Nous allons avoir un petite fille! Je suis tellement excité, Maman!

Tamaki looked so overjoyed to be here…. I was very happy for him.

But to say I wasn't happy for myself was a lie..

I have to admit, I felt a slight thrill at seeing the baby on the monitor for the first time, even if it did look like a squirrel to me. Or some animal other than a human.

But I'm actually starting to like the child, I believe.

Dear Dad,

We got to know the baby's sex today. I was a little hesitant at first, but Tamaki talked me into it. It would be better to know than to not to know, right? Well, I have to say that I was really excited when we found out, Dad. Really, really excited. I won't describe every little detail for you, because honestly it all happened so quickly and perfectly that I forgot a lot of it!

The gel was cold. It made me squirm awkwardly. And seeing the inside of my body was just plain weird. You would have been overjoyed of course. I know you would have been. And I'm sorry I'm in America having this baby instead of over there, but…I'd rather have it here, Dad. Privately. Quietly. No one but me and Tamaki really.

Anyway, we saw the baby, and the doctor pointed at it and told us what it was. I almost died in shock. Leave it to me to have a baby that I will argue with until the day I die! Wow, this is going to be rough. I'm starting to crave things and I'm getting mad easily. Tamaki's terrified. He says that I'm acting like you, can you believe it?

Well, I got to go. We're just planning on relaxing tonight. I love you so much, Dad. Thank you for understanding.

Love,

Haruhi

P.S. I know my message on the baby's sex is cryptic, but you'll figure it out, right? It just feels too weird writing it outright!

*Tamaki's Point of View*

The baby….. She was going to be so beautiful.

I almost couldn't wait.

Of course, I also couldn't wait for Haruhi to stop craving instant chicken ramen. It was starting to get pretty frightening…..

Then there was the mood swings….. One minute, we'd be happily having a conversation, and the next…. Here comes a lamp flying at my head!

I can't even begin to understand it.

But at least she's happy.

*Haruhi's Point of View*

Tamaki's right.

I am happy. For the most part. For now.

One thing I hate though… My breasts have almost doubled in size.

I don't appreciate it. How can other women move around with these?

December

"Hey Mori, hurry up with those, would ya?"

I nod, arms straining slightly as I pick up several large steel poles. It's very strenuous, but rewarding. I'm gaining my muscle mass back, slowly but steadily. Soon I'll be able to compete again. I'll be able to make my own money for once in my life. And so, with that goal set firmly in my head, here I am.

Working on constructing a brand new fighting dojo, generously being funded by the Haninozuka family.

"Kisuke." I hand the heavy cargo to my new friend, who regards me with disdain and worry. "You're not eating again are ya, Morinozuka?" Did he mention that he just might be able to read minds? It seems highly plausible. I keep my head down, wordlessly offering him the poles, "Our job, Kisuke."

He clucks his tongue disapprovingly, grabbing the equipment so easily. I envy him. "Our job, bullshit, when ya friend's not eating and worrying about some broad…" he mutters, handing the poles to another man above us. I say nothing. This job has helped harness my anger, turning it into something productive. I feel an overwhelming sense of rage nearly daily. Kisuke doesn't mind.

The work whistle sounds and I look up quietly.

"Hell yeah! Finally!" Kisuke leaps off the platform, landing with a solid thump on the ground next to me. "C'mon Morinozuka. Let's put a few drinks in ya." I want to say no, but I don't. Drinks seems like a good idea right now and besides, Kisuke has the bigger advantage. For now, anyway.

Hours later I stumble home, Kisuke's shoulders under one of my arms as I can barely stand upright. "Mori, ya bastard…." He says softly. "One of these days ya gonna kill yaself." I can barely raise my head to look at him. Kill myself…. I'm too cowardly to do such a thing.

I have my own apartment now, a cheap little thing I share with most of Tokyo. I moved there a month after I heard about Haruhi's pregnancy. I needed to leave. Mitsukuni had conceded to the plan. He hadn't been too joyous, though.

Kisuke dumped me rather unceremoniously on my bed. "Ya dumb bastard." He haphazardly threw a blanket over me. "Kisuke…" I called weakly as he raided my fridge for what little food I could purchase. He peeked out at me. "What?" I raised a hand, feeling like a complete and total jackass. What a drunkard. What a poor, broke drunkard.

"Thanks."

He flapped a hand unconcernedly in my direction. "Yeah yeah whatever, ya big lug. Go to sleep already." He flopped down on a battered, old recliner next to me. "Good night, Kisuke." He hit me on the head.

"Didn't I tell ya to get ya ass to sleep?"

Dear Takashi,

The baby is a girl, or so I'm told. So far Yori is proving to be quite a reliable girl. She doesn't say much, but she's trusted. She's a lot like you.

She's fine by the way. Yori says that she throws things at Tamaki whenever the opportunity presents itself. Guess she's having cravings now. And mood swings to rival Reiko's.

Renge finally had her own baby, a boy. His hair was black at first, so Umehito and she were concerned at first, but he's fine now. It was the aftermath of one of Reiko's spells, apparently. His name is Kurai.

But how are you, Takashi? You didn't respond to my last letter, so I'm kinda worried about you. I know you said not to come find you, but I will if you don't reply back soon, cousin.

Love,

Mitsukuni

January

"It's you fault!" A lamp was thrown.

"You did this to me, you bastard!" Now a picture. A quite large one at that.

"Haruhi, calm down." Tamaki raised his hands in surrender. His tone was low, his face neutral. "It's alright, everything's fine, you're just…overreacting." She glared at him. "Overreacting?" And at once Tamaki knew that he had said the wrong thing. "Shit." He murmured softly.

"Oh, so I'm overreacting now, am I?" She pointed vigorously to herself. "Do you want to carry around a baby for nine months? Do you want your breasts to swell to unnatural proportions? Do you?" Tamaki ran a hand over his face. "I'm going to leave if you don't calm down." Her eyes began to glisten wetly. "Oh sure, just leave when the going gets tough! Fine then. Go."

And so he left, shutting the door with a dignified grace behind him.

Haruhi slid down the wall, hands pressed to her face as more sobs escaped her lips.

*Haruhi's Point of View*

I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. Dammit, I'm so stupid. I was overreacting. Over what? I looked up. I couldn't even remember. Stupid, stupid, stupid…

Why was it that I was determined to ruin things now? Things had been going so well… And now this. I couldn't blame on the hormones, I was a placid person. Just shame, I guess. Shame and fear. I loved this baby, loved her dearly, but I didn't want to have her.

I pick myself up, using the wall for support. I'm getting so big around now. My equilibrium is off balance. I look at my protruding belly and can't see my feet. I laugh. "Well what's-your-name, you've made me fat." The baby doesn't respond, no kick or anything. Not yet anyway. That part's to come later.

I lay down on our bed, sleep washing over me as I given in to my recent exhaustion. Being pregnant is a real bitch, you know.

I'll call Tamaki later. Apologize… I feel really….really bad…

*At a bar in Los Angeles, California*

"Pick your poison, stranger."

"Jack, please."

"Just jack?" The bartender looks surprised. I fix him with my coldest stare. "Yes, just jack, could you kindly hurry along?" His look of incredulity turns into that of great insult and he turns away.

I run a hand through my hair. Dammit, I'm tired. This is ridiculous. We shouldn't be fighting like this. We never fight. I debate about calling her. For five minutes, I stare idly at my phone, trying to think of what to say.

"Hey, stranger, you need somethin'?" I look at him. He slides me my drink and puts an elbow on the bar. Typically nosy Americans. I almost say so, but bite my tongue as I drink. "From the looks of you, I'm guessin' you got yourself some lady troubles." I don't respond. "It's alright, you know. I'm just here to listen if you want."

He extends his rather delicate hand across the bar. I am astounded. I hadn't really looked properly at this man before. He is so feminine like! I look around. There are men everywhere! I look up at the sign.

A gay bar. I have wandered into a gay bar. I should walk away out of sheer mortification now.

The bartender chuckles at my expression. "From the looks of it, I'm guessin' you walked into the wrong place, stranger." I can only nod, dumbstruck.

"Oh well, it's alright though. I'll protect you from the shifty lookin' types around here." He winks at me, and I blush. He laughs again. "Come on now, no need to be touchy. I'm not one of the shifty types." His hand is still hanging in mid-air.

"I'm Alex, by the way."

I hesitantly reach across the bar and shake his hand.

"I'm Tamaki."

He smiles. "Well Tamaki, what's on your mind?" And quietly, I begin to tell him through several rounds of drinks.

February

"Tamaki, come quick!"

I run over to the couch she is sitting on. 'Haruhi, what is it? What's wrong?" My hands flit all over her body, touching, skimming, making sure she's not hurt. "Nothing. Nothing at all." She's crying, though. I place my hands on either side of her face. "But Haruhi…Darling, I don't know if you realize this, but you're crying." She laughs at that, tears still coursing down her cheeks.

"You big idiot, just stick your head against my stomach!"

I do as she asks, cautiously. I am still a little overcautious about her current condition.

We sat there awkwardly for a moment or so.

"Um, Haruhi darling, I don't mean to be a jerk, but what am I waiting f-"

She kicked me in the head.

Wait.

No.

The baby kicked me in the head.

The baby kicked me.

"Haruhi, the baby kicked me! She kicked me, oh my God, can you believe it, it's just so wonderful, I can't even-" Haruhi cut me off, laughing. "I know, imagine how it feels inside me!" She began to laugh hysterically, the semi-eerie sound resonating off the low walls. We went on like that for about five minutes. Gradually, her laughs started to dim.

And to my shock, they began to turn into sobs.

*Haruhi's Point of View*

The baby kicked me. She kicked. It was the most wonderful thing in the world I had ever experienced. But then… why did it feel like a part of me had just died inside? That everything was all of a sudden so wrong and it was making me sick.

In fact, I was sick. I ran into the bathroom and let go of whatever previous food I had consumed. "Haruhi…" Tamaki sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Darling, what am I going to do with you?"

I kept my head down, silent. "God, I don't know how to help you, one minute you're happy and the next you're sobbing!" Out of my peripheral vision, I saw him grip his hair in his hands. "You're even making me go crazy right along with you, and I don't know if it's because of the hormones or if it's because all of this is wrong."

I raised my head to look at him, weakly. Jesus, I was exhausted. But did he really think that this was wrong? It wasn't just me anymore? I rinsed my mouth out quietly, Tamaki silently kneeling on the floor behind me. "C'mon. Get up." I pulled his hand, bringing him to his feet.

His head was down.

"Haruhi, you don't love me, do you?"

I shot back, "Of course I do."

He raised his head to look into my eyes, and those violet eyes were so sad, so resigned, that in that instant I felt so ashamed for not loving him back.

In an instant though, his mouth tilted into a goofy smile, painted on by him in an effort to mask his pain. "Alright!" He hugged me tightly. "Well, now that that's settled, let's go watch a movie!"

He dragged me off to the living room.

This was all so crazy.

How old was I again?

March

I woke up to a quiet house. Due to last night's drinking, the shades were drawn and my head throbbed. "Kisuke, you bastard." I had promised myself not to drink last night. But….he had convinced me. Yet again. Currently, he was snoring on the floor, missing his pants. I scratched my head sleepily. I had no idea where his pants had gone. Nor mine. I grimaced, looking down. At least I had ended up in my own bed this time. I nearly rolled over to go back to sleep.

I shot up with a start. I had one of my first tournaments today! I looked at the clock and swore. "Late, late, I'm running late!" I grabbed the nearest pants next to me, and they ripped in my haste to get them on. I must learn to be gentle again. My strength is completely back.

The loud noise woke up Kisuke. Blearily, he muttered, "What?" before I ran by and kicked him in the head. "We're late! I'm never drinking again after this, you bastard!" He shot up almost immediately.

"What the hell was that for, ya big brute? I never made ya drink! Ya the one who got a letter that night and dragged me to the bar, dumbass!" I stopped. Was I really? I couldn't remember. "Whatever. We have to go now." I said urgently. "Bullshit whatever." He muttered behind me. "It's that broad again, innit?"

I stopped for about a minute.

"Yeah. Yeah, it's that broad again."

He walked up behind me. I felt a huge, strong hand clop down on my shoulder.

"Ya need to get her back or ya need to forget about her, Morinozuka."

"It's kind of hard to do that when she's married and pregnant, Kisuke."

He laughed as we walked out the door.

Somewhere against my will, a small bud of hope began to bloom in my chest.

April

Just another month. There was only one left to go now.

I wonder how Takashi's doing.

Is he thinking of me at all? Probably not. I shouldn't be thinking of him either.

*Tamaki's Point of View*

On more month! Only one more month and then we'll get to hold our glorious baby girl!

I should call Alex and tell him, oh I'm so excited!

I'm helping Haruhi as much as I can, she's getting so big and round, like Buddha!

Oh, this is all so wonderful!

*Takashi's Point of View*

Mitsukuni called today. He told me that Haruhi is due in a month. I'm happy for her. But….

With every day, it feels as if my heart is breaking a little more.

I'm actually drinking now. I'm winning my fights. Kisuke's worried about me, as usual. But now it seems as if his worry has only intensified.

He shouldn't worry. I'm perfectly fine, I'm just…..shattered.

I miss her, God, I miss her so much.

But what can I possibly do about it?

May

"Son of a-"

Haruhi sat up with a gasp. Tamaki barely stirred. "Really? Of all times?" she asked of her stomach in slight irritation. A throbbing contraction answered her. "Damn!" she swore. The woman's gaze brushed over the slight, sleeping form of her spouse. With a sigh, she swung her legs out of bed and rose. 'Can't be helped.' She thought with a sort of compassion. 'He hasn't slept this good in months.' And indeed, he hadn't. There were dark circles adorning Tamaki's eyes and a rather brittle quality to his body. His worry over her and the baby had been increasing these past couple months.

Haruhi bent to retrieve her overnight bag before slipping on her shoes. The contractions came again, and she gasped, remaining in her position for a few moments before recovering. "I hate this." She whispered quietly to herself. The pale blue numbers on the clock told her that it was 1:02 A.M. So tired… Wearily, she ran a hand over her face.

Takashi's face came into her mind all of a sudden, uninvited and unwittingly.

"You're having your little girl now, love?"

He smiled.

"I'm happy for you…"

Yes. That was exactly what he would've said.

She began to cry. "I need you, Takashi." Her heart was finally breaking again, after all this time. This hurt more than the years, knowing he was out and not missing her. Not knowing how much she was missing him, even if she didn't show it. "I need you." The contractions caused an odd hiccup to her words. She was so lost, now. Now it was all dawning on her. It was over.

No one could fix her. Or him. Or him. They were unfixable, broken, shattered beyond repair. Something had to give, and it had. Yet… it wasn't what she wanted. It was what others had wanted, what was expected of her.

When had she become so dependent, so spineless? What had happened to the strong, brave, clever girl that had been Haruhi Fujioka?

She looked over at her husband. Her eyes hardened into preserving dark amber. Now, she would start again. She wanted to be her again. For now, she would ignore the fact that she wanted to see silver instead of violet, black instead of blonde.

"Tamaki." She roughly shook his arm. "Get up, please. I'm in labor." She rose, barely hearing his mumbled, incoherent "What?". Slinging her bag over her shoulder, she put one hand protectively over her belly.

'Well No-Name, here we go.'

A stabbing pain deep in her abdomen answered her as if saying, 'Yes. Here goes.'

*In Tokyo, Japan*

"Hello? Hello, ya big bastard? Wake up, will ya? Now's not the time for a big hangover….Hey!" He angrily shoved hard at his friend's shoulder. "It's six in the evenin, who the hell drinks and sleeps at that hour, ya bastard, get ya ass up!" Takashi twitched, one bleak silver eye glaring at him from under the pillow. "Get. Away. Kisuke."

"There's a blonde midge here askin' for ya, asshole. Get up and face the night." Takashi raised his head indifferently, looking at his cousin. "Mitsukuni?" Kisuke hauled him up by his collar. "Dumbass." With that, he flopped down in his old, beaten chair.

There was a look of pity mingled with disgust on Mitsukuni's face. "What the hell is wrong with you?" he asked slowly, disdain evident in his tone. Takashi looked at his feet, fighting his headache and anger slowly coming on in waves. "This is pathetic. You are a Morinozuka. Why are you simply wasting your life away?" He felt a stab of resentment at that.

"You don't understand-"

His cousin held up a hand. There was a barely contained ferocity in his words. "Bullshit. You are a coward, Takashi Morinozuka." Takashi made a disparaging noise in his throat, heading for the kitchen sink. It was old and rusty, like his heart. And yet, it still produced pure water. Suddenly, he was mad at the sink. He threw water on his face. Everything became slightly clearer.

"Don't you get it? You're sitting here crying over this breakup like a little girl, but you're not doing anything about it. Not. A. Thing." Mitsukuni was furious. Had he no shame, no dignity?

Was he really going to sit by as the supposed love of his life was forever taken from him? "You must not have loved her all that much; otherwise you would be fighting for her."

"How can you say that?" Takashi shot back quickly, "I loved her more than I've ever loved anyone. She was the world to me. How would you feel if Reiko was in her position, if you could nothing to stop this madness as your love was impregnated by another man?"

His cousin glared at the taller man. "I would take her away. Far away from all this, until things died down. But I would not leave her. I couldn't do that."

At this, Takashi was silent.

"Think, will you? Think long and hard about what you want to do. I love Haru-chan with all of my heart and I want to see her happy. She deserves it. You and Tamaki owe her that much, don't you think?"

Mitsukuni tacked on as an afterthought: "She's having her baby. Now. She just called me about five minutes ago."

Takashi just stared. Stared into those golden-brown eyes until they were all he could see. And at last, he moved.

"You're right, Mitsukuni. I am a coward."

And with that, he left his apartment, not sure of where he was going.

*Two hours later*

"This hurts."

Tamaki smiled at his wife. Leave it to her to be so calm and blunt about childbirth. "I don't like this. Doctor, is this almost over?" she inquired politely as he told her to push. Needless to say, the man was quite unnerved. "Miss Suoh?" the man asked, brows furrowing in confusion, "You're not in any pain?" Haruhi blinked slowly, as if taking her time to process the question. "Hm." She looked thoughtfully at her husband. He looked relieved yet exhausted. "No not really. Should I be?"

The doctor sweatdropped in fright and without an answer returned to his work.

"She should be out soon, Miss Suoh."

Haruhi sighed, looking out the window. "Alright then."

*Unknown location, 11:08 P.M Tokyo time, 6:08 A.M Los Angeles time*

"Coffee, sir?"

Coffee? When had he last drunk coffee? He couldn't recall. And so, with a little start of surprise, he thanked her. He had been looking out the window for some insurmountable period of time now, and the stewardess was quite unnerved. As she poured him his drink, she asked conversationally, "You alright, sir?"

Once again, he jumped as if startled. He seemed deep in thought, and she'd hate to be the one to bring him out of it, but… He looked pale and rather drawn out. There were dark circles under his eyes and she idly wondered when the man had last slept. "Hm?" She waited patiently for him to collect his thoughts. "Ah. I'm fine, thank you." She dropped her eyes to her work. A lie. Typical of those who didn't want people snooping about in their business.

"Alright then. I do apologize, sir, but you seem rather haggard." He looked at her with calculating eyes as she busied herself. "I'm fine." He reiterated, focusing his attention towards the window again. The stewardess wondered what he hoped to see out there so high up in the air. Yet she knew better than to ask. "Well beggin' your pardon, sir. It wasn't my place." And with that, she moved to walk away.

His hand sought her wrist and her eyes widened in alarm.

"Miss, how much longer will we be?" She took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down as every hair on her arm stood up. She hadn't the slightest idea why, but she was afraid of this man. He seemed upset, delicately balanced on the edge of losing his mind. The stewardess looked him in the eyes despite her frightened look. His eyes seemed to sadden at her evident fear. "A-About four more hours, s-sir."

He released her and she fought the urge to back away. "

"Thank you." He diverted his gaze to the window. "I apologize for scaring you." The man tacked on as an afterthought. The stewardess let out a sigh of relief. "It's alright, sir. I'm fine." She moved to make her way towards the front of the plan again.

"One last thing, miss." And she turned. He seemed quiet and resigned. How many faces could one man have?, she wondered. "Yes sir?" she politely inquired.

"What's your name?"

"Maylene, sir."

He smiled at her and she was taken aback. He had a nice smile when he showed it. "Thank you for caring, Maylene." She clumsily bowed and left, saying nothing in return.

"Four more hours." The man whispered quietly to himself.

*Four hours later*

"Doctor, why is this taking so long?" Tamaki asked, gripping his wife's hand in concern. She was beginning to show minor signs of pain and fatigue. Sweat shone on her forehead in bright beads, illuminated by the fluorescent lights above her. The doctor looked at the couple with concern showing in every aspect of his face. "Your wife is rather inadequate for childbirth, Master Suoh." Tamaki stood from his chair and towered over the man. His eyes were cold. "Inadequate? What do you mean?" The doctor, however, remained kneeling and this only seemed to anger Tamaki further.

"Her hips, sir." He said in a tiny voice, shrinking in on himself. "Her hips are not big enough and thus the birthing process would be difficult and even potentially dangerous." Haruhi tilted her head up to look at her husband. "Sit down and leave him alone." She ordered in what strength she had left. "I'll be perfectly alright." Tamaki reluctantly did as requested of him, glaring daggers at the doctor. "Why weren't we told of this before?" he barked.

"I was under the impression that you knew." The doctor said feebly. Haruhi looked at the man. "Are we nearly through?" she asked in a patient yet tired tone. The man seemed grateful at her patience. "Yes, Miss Suoh. One last push or two, and we should be done." Haruhi nodded, looking at her husband's worried face. "I'm alright, you big idiot." She said jokingly. Tamaki smiled, saying nothing but squeezing her hand.

A baby cried and Haruhi nearly collapsed in relief.

*Los Angeles Hospital, 10:11 A.M.*

"Excuse me?" The nurse looked up. And stared. "Yes?" she said, self-consciously patting her hair. "Haruhi Suoh." She smiled and giggled. "Oh yes, she's just had her baby girl! Beautiful little thing, I've heard." She pointed a long, manicured finger down the hall. "Last room on your right; be careful not to be too loud."

"I will."

The nurse smiled. "I'm sure you're not family, but I'll make an exception."

A smile was exchanged between the two, one yearning and one rather tentative and nervous. "Thank you."

As the footsteps died away, the nurse let a dreamy sigh escape her lips. "If I was a few years younger…." She returned to her work as her mind ran rampant.

A sudden, loud exclamation made her look up again.

Two men were arguing. One was standing quietly, allowing himself to be berated as the shorter one let loose a long torrent of words. As he finished his speech, the tall man said but one sentence and all of the fight went out of the angry one. He simply turned away and walked off. The last thing the nurse saw of the man was his back retreating into the stairwell.

"Oh goodness." She turned to her computer, dismissing the whole affair from her mind as it was none of her concern anyway.

He knocked on the door quietly, fingers barely brushing the wood as to not startle her. A voice soaked in fatigue and happiness answered him with a weary, "Come in." He did so. Haruhi looked up in slight irritation, voice a hushed whisper as she threatened, "You had better be quiet or else-" Her heart beat picked up as whatever words she had planned to use died in her throat. "Hey." Takashi said quietly, awkwardly, hand raised in a solitary greeting.

Haruhi said nothing. She simply turned her head away and looked at her baby. Her eyes didn't fill with tears, and for that, she was proud. For now, all she would focus on was her daughter, her tiny little daughter who slept cuddled against her breast as she breathed her first breaths in this strange new world. She was beautiful, she was perfect, and she was what released Haruhi from her failing, lost marriage.

Her name was Katsumi and her hair was the color of the gentle, elegant darkness that wrapped its' loving hand around the silver moon.

"I missed you." Takashi whispered. The sound echoed across the tiny room and Katsumi stirred. Sleepy, headstrong brown eyes looked up in wonder into a face somewhat like their own. Haruhi smiled at her. "I missed you too. So much." She tore her gaze away from her baby's face with some difficulty to look upon the man she loved so dearly. "You came all the way here for me?" She asked, trying but not succeeding in keeping the pleasure out of her voice.

He walked over to her bedside, not afraid anymore of what had happened or what might happen. He just knew that he wanted to see that child wrapped so lovingly, so concealing in that pink blanket, just to see what she looked like. "Always." Takashi whispered in her ear, and she smiled softly to herself. "May I see her? Please?" he asked, sitting next to her in a chair that was once occupied by a smaller, more elegant man. But he didn't pay the slightest amount of attention. He let his gaze sweep over the simple gold band left on the nightstand. He didn't care anymore. It was finally all over. The worst, at least.

Haruhi sat up, moving her body over to leave a rather large space next to her. "Up. Now." She ordered, smiling. It was just too easy to love him. To love him so much, with her entire heart when she had never loved anyone this much before. And now she had another to love just as much. For a baby, Katsumi was very quiet, very reserved. She was like her father. Katsumi watched the whole scene unfold with bright, assessing eyes. How was she to know how much her parents had went through to bring them all to this point?

Takashi sat down next to her, pulling both girls to him in a gentle yet resolute embrace. "I love you, Haruhi. And this time, nothing will separate us again. Not now, not ever." He kissed her softly, hand reverently cupping her face. They stayed that way for a moment. Takashi then focused his silver eyes upon the baby. Katsumi looked back in all her tiny, blanketed glory. Her brown eyes were beautiful. Her black hair was so fine and so little. "She-" Takashi could barely choke out the words. "She's mine, isn't she?"

One might walk in the room at this moment and gaze upon the tender scene with that of awe and wonder. They might feel as if they were intruding on something sacred, something so much more than the birth of a child. As to not ruin this one wondrous moment when no two souls were ever so close before, one would quietly walk away and privately decide to come back at a later date. And this is what Ryouji Fujioka did; retreating to his hotel he had been staying in for three months now as to watch over his little girl.

"Of course she's yours." Haruhi looked incredulously at Takashi. "And you shouldn't have doubted that for one minute, Takashi." His hands lay awkwardly around her, not really knowing what to do with themselves. "May I…..hold her?" Takashi asked, blushing steadily with embarrassment as his lover laughed. "Here."

And as he took that little girl into his arms, Takashi felt as if a bond was now forged that could never be taken away. As he stared into those deep brown eyes so very similar to the ones of the woman he loved, he couldn't speak. No words came to mind, nothing coherent, nothing could be expressed vocally from Takashi Morinozuka. He was speechless, and the only thing that was letting him know that he still lived was an overwhelming, overbearing, completely awe-inspiring feeling of…..

Love.

"Haruhi, I….." She took one look at him and saw it all reflected there. 'She's got him. No girl will ever be more loved.' Haruhi smiled and said reverently, softly but strongly, "I know exactly how you feel." Takashi could only numbly nod as his tiny, fragile, oh so fragile daughter looked up at him, barely blinking. She stirred, breaking the spell cast over the little family as the barest hint of a smile skimmed her face.

It was then that Takashi let himself cry, cry those happy tears that had been threatening to fall ever since he had laid eyes on Haruhi in this room. They were only four and they were very brief, but they summed up everything that had happened until this point and just how far he and Haruhi had come to get here.

"Haruhi Fujioka, there is no one in this world that I will ever love more than I love you. And I want you….." He leaned in, kissing her mouth just as softly if not more so than before. "To marry me." Haruhi couldn't help but make a snide little remark as she kissed him back.

"Well, I'm not into polygamy but as soon as the divorce papers go through, sure."

And it was at that given moment, as if she had been waiting for that important milestone to be reached, that Katsumi began to cry.

Well… That chapter just cured me of any and all depression. I am in love with all of my characters in this story and am sad that it will end soon, but I will never stop writing.

What did you all think of this chapter? I rather enjoyed writing it, and I hop that you enjoyed reading it.

Prepare yourselves for the end everyone, for soon it is coming.

Love,

Bailey Danielle